Skip to main content
Communication, Art + Technology › Communication
SFU Student

Cornel standing in front of a NATO Banner
I would recommend the SFU NATO Club to anyone who is looking to improve their public speaking and negotiating skills, as well as their knowledge of international affairs. I think students who join the SFU NATO Club also have an advantage when applying for the SFU – NATO Field School.

I had the opportunity to interview the co-founder of SFU NATO Club, and Political Science undergrad, Cornel Turdeanu. The SFU North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Club prepares members to participate in model NATO conferences in Washington DC and Ottawa. Cornel was part of the organizing committee for the 2017 NATO Summer Field School; a field school convened through SFU International Services for Students, which offered applied learning and directed practice in the areas of national security and defence, as well as international cooperation and diplomacy. As Cornel prepares himself for a new beginning and the end to his undergraduate career, he reflects upon his involvement with SFU Model NATO Club and recent NATO Summer Field School, which took place at NATO Headquarters in Belgium and NATO Defense College in Rome.

Cornel at a NATO Summer Field School
To begin, tell me a bit about yourself. What are you studying and how long have you been at SFU? 

I’m studying Political Science, in particular, the Defence, Diplomacy and Development stream. I’m currently in my last year of undergraduate studies. This semester, I am doing a co-op work term at the US Consulate General in Vancouver, in the Political-Economic Section. The co-op at the US Consulate has been an amazing experience, which I highly recommend to students who are really looking to enter the field of international relations. 

What are your plans after graduating from SFU?

I will be applying to master’s degree programs at SFU and other schools in Canada and the US. The best-case scenario would be for me to start my MA in Political Science at SFU in Fall 2018. In the long run, I hope to work for Global Affairs Canada, the Department of National Defence, and one day at NATO either representing Canada or as part of its International Staff.

What inspired you to be a part of SFU NATO Field School this past summer?

I was inspired by NATO’s values of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. I think NATO has also been vital in keeping the peace in the Euro-Atlantic region since its founding in 1949. More recently, NATO has been the guarantor of democracy and stability for its Eastern European member states. In terms of actually being involved with the field school, I have been in charge of the organizational side of the field school since it started as just a concept on paper in the fall of 2016. Together with Jazlyn Melnychuk, I was named “student leader” by field school director Dr. Moens. This meant I was both a student of the field school, while also helping organize its logistical, budgetary, administrative, and teaching details.

Do you have any advice for students who are just starting out and are considering doing a field school?

I would advise any student interested in a career in international relations, foreign policy or defence to come to our field school. It is probably the best opportunity at SFU to gain hands-on experience in the field of international relations and to build your resume. If you want to gain experience with NATO simulations before the field school even begins, join the SFU NATO Club!

Cornel and a group of people standing by an aircraft
What was one thing you learned from your experience with SFU NATO Field School? 

I learned that professionals in the fields of foreign policy and diplomacy are actually very open, and very happy to mentor and network with undergraduate students. I also learned a lot about how an organization like NATO effectively co-ordinates in an international crisis through a simulation we did at the NATO Defense College that is normally reserved for senior military officers and diplomats.

How did you get involved with SFU NATO Club?

Together with fellow SFU students, Sai Wong and Jazlyn Melnychuk, I started the SFU NATO Club in the Fall of 2015. I decided to do this after participating in a model NATO simulation in Latvia and winning an award for writing the best position paper in my committee. I wanted to bring the same level of international engagement for undergraduate students that I saw in Europe, to SFU.

I visited SFU Model NATO Club's website and saw that you were the president of the SFU NATO Club. Can you elaborate on what SFU Model NATO Club does?

We host monthly simulations of several of NATO’s decision-making bodies, such as the North Atlantic Council, the Military Committee, and the Operations Policy Committee. We use these simulations to train students who are interested in coming with us to international NATO simulations in Ottawa and Washington DC. We also hold speaker’s events and have hosted senior military and NATO officials at SFU.

What would you say to students thinking about joining SFU NATO Club?

I would recommend the SFU NATO Club to anyone who is looking to improve their public speaking and negotiating skills, as well as their knowledge of international affairs. I think students who join the SFU NATO Club also have an advantage when applying for the SFU – NATO Field School. 

What do you think NATO's biggest challenges will be in the next 5-10 years?

I think NATO is navigating rough geopolitical seas currently. However, I also think NATO has been through a lot worse. It has been the most successful alliance in modern history and has proven to be very adaptable. In terms of challenges, I think countries in Europe and North America must work to continuously strengthen the transatlantic ties that bind them together, and not abandon this vital link that has been the cornerstone of global stability for the past 70 years. I also think all NATO member states must respect and adhere to the principles stated in the Washington Treaty, namely democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.

Cornel and another person sitting at the Defense College boardroom
How do you think NATO should respond to infringements on the security of its "partners across the globe" such as Japan and South Korea?

Japan and South Korea share the same democratic values that bind NATO member states together, and had NATO been a global organization they may have become full member states many years ago. However, due to their geographic location, they are only able to gain “Partner” status and not “Member” status. There are many cooperation activities available in the NATO Partnership Cooperation Menu to both South Korea and Japan, which can help strengthen their militaries and their defence ties to NATO in the long run.

On a separate note though, since South Korea and Japan share so many values and interests with NATO member states, I cannot imagine a situation where, if either of these two countries came under very serious military aggression most if not all NATO member states would respond strongly. Whether this would be done through a NATO framework or not is up for debate. NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has in the past strongly condemned North Korea’s actions, actions that threaten both Japan and South Korea, and officials from these countries have had discussions with NATO about the North Korean threat.   

Beyond the Blog

  • To learn more about the annual SFU NATO Field School, visit this page

SFU Student
Queenie Lei is a fourth-year student majoring in Communication and hoping to minor in international studies. She is currently preparing for her exchange to City University of Hong Kong in Spring 2016. During her spare time, she enjoys watching dramas and hanging out with her friends.
visibility  185
Nov 7, 2017

You Might Like These... Prospective, Professional Development, Career Exploration

Co-op students jumping in the air
The Co-op Connection Helps Retention

In this blog post, Heather shares with us why co-op is an important experience for all students, whether it be to further career aspirations or to gain future employment opportunities. 

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

Hands holding a volunteer badge
Sana Siddiqui: Volunteerism Opens up Endless Possibilities | Part Two

She has been involved with SFU LEAD, Peer Programs and the SFU Muslim Students’ Association, just to name a few. Now, Sana Siddiqui, a Criminology student, reflects back and shares with us the invaluable academic, personal and professional skills and opportunities volunteering opened for her, read on to find out what she has to say about getting involved on campus and in the community.

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections

Tessa
The Skills You Can’t Learn in Class

Understanding the importance of applying classroom knowledge to the workplace, Tessa decides to apply for a co-op position with Live Well Exercise Clinic. Read about their journey and find out what you can't learn in a classroom!  

View of BC Cancer Research Center from W 10th Avenue looking North
Branching Out and Standing Out at the BC Cancer Agency

Working in a huge building can be intimidating and make you feel very small, especially as a temporary Co-op student. Check out what Josh did to make sure everyone in the BC Cancer Research Center knew who he was!

Mimi Tsai Portrait
Research and Design: Reflection and Learning with the City of Surrey

Mimi's co-op as a UX Designer at the City of Surrey provided opportunities to improve user experience by creating digital solutions for city services through user-centered design. Read her story, here.